The third encounter between the Florida Panthers (45-17-4) and Carolina Hurricanes (39-20-6) is coming up soon. It will be held on Thursday, March 14, at 7:00 PM ET at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes are slightly favored to win, with a moneyline at -125.

The Panthers are 4-1 over their last five games and have significant momentum for this road test. Their most recent battle was a 4-3 outing over the Dallas Stars. This marked their second consecutive game of scoring at least four goals.

They are arguably better on the road than at home, boasting a 24-8-2 record away. One key player to watch will be Sam Reinhart, who leads them with 46 goals and 77 points.

The Panthers’ offense averages 3.32 goals and takes 33.9 shots a game. Their substantial power play percentage (27.2) will be critical if those moments present themselves.

Defensively, they have a slight edge over the Hurricanes, as they allow just 2.35 goals and 27.7 shots from opposing teams. Their penalty-kill percentage is great, at 81.8, but it still lags behind the Hurricanes’ a bit. 

The Hurricanes are coming from a 1-0 loss to the New York Rangers, which snapped their recent three-game win streak. They are 3-2 in their last five games, showing their recent success. Can they get back on track at home against one of the best teams in the league?

They are at their best at home, as their record shows 21-9-4 at PNC Arena this season. If they are comfortable here, it will allow offensive team leader Sebastian Aho (68 PTS, 25 G, 43 AST) to find good scoring opportunities and to set up hide teammates nicely.

The Hurricanes are scoring 3.31 goals and taking 32.7 shots per game. With a 26.3 power play percentage, they should be able to combat the Panthers just fine in power play matchups.

They are giving up 2.68 goals and 25.4 shot attempts from opposing teams. Compared to their offense, it offers a reasonable margin of safety. This is still quality defense, but not as appealing as the Panthers’.

The NHL odds from MyBookie show that the Carolina Hurricanes are slight favorites at home. In the two matches between these two teams, both have won once, with the Hurricanes winning 1-0 back in February.

The first meeting ended in favor of the Panthers, a 5-2 result. These matchups have seen both extremes, with moderate scoring or little action. Look for the Hurricanes to get back on track and win a tough one at home.